VOYA
Bradley's answer to Yes, Your Teen Is Crazy (Harbour Press, 2003) is full of helpful information and suggestions for teenagers facing the many demands placed on them by society, peers, and parents. American Idol Clay Aiken's heartfelt and encouraging foreword offers simple "follow your dream" advice for teenagers. Bradley divides young adult life into three parts: physical, emotional, and psychological. Using gentle humor, a few cartoons, and plenty of anecdotes, he describes changing bodies, ideas, and attitudes in clear, concise language with caring sensitivity. The chapter that discusses mental health covers a wide range of topics including depression, child abuse, drug and alcohol abuse, eating disorders, and a few other types of mental illness. Bradley seriously recommends that teens seek help from professionals when necessary. He dissects today's culture, revealing its strong and often negative influence on teens. Peer and parental pressures, equally important forces in a teenager's life, are also fully investigated. Bradley gives plenty of helpful advice on how to handle many annoying, worrisome, embarrassing, or difficult situations of everyday teenage life. There are stories from this psychologist's private practice that highlight many situations-drugs, fights with parents or other students, sex, school, and more-that can be stressful for young adults. In each case, he offers suggestions for gaining or maintaining self-control and improving the chances for a positive outcome. The length and layout, with lots of print and some bold captions, make this work more suitable for a class setting rather than individual teen browsing. VOYA CODES: 4Q 4P S (Better than most, marred only byoccasional lapses; Broad general YA appeal; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2004, Harbour Press, 399p.; Index. Illus. Further Reading., Trade pb. Ages 15 to 18. —Brenda Moses-Allen